Bird Guide

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater vs White-eared Honeyeater

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

Acanthagenys rufogularis

Small48 gShrubland

The spiny-cheeked honeyeater, Acanthagenys rufogularis, is a medium-sized bird, ranging from 22 to 27 centimeters (8.7 to 10.6 inches) in length. Its crown is speckled, dark grey on brown plumage. The juvenile bird has a characteristic yellow cheek sash, although this is less pronounced in the adult bird, where predominantly the cheek is white with a grey and/or brown streak under the cheek. Its beak is long and straight with a black tip and a fleshy red or pink colour towards the chin and up to the gape.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
White-eared Honeyeater (Nesoptilotis leucotis)

White-eared Honeyeater

Nesoptilotis leucotis

Small24 gShrubland

The white-eared honeyeater has an olive-green upper and lower body; its wings and tail are a mix of brown, yellow and olive; the crown is dark grey with black streaks; its cheeks and throat are black; its ear-coverts are white. Its iris is red or brown (juvenile); its bill is black and its legs are dark grey. The white-eared honeyeater is a medium-sized honeyeater 19–22 centimetres (7.5–8.7 in) in length. There is no sexual dimorphism, with males and females looking alike. They weigh approximately 20 g (0.71 oz) and have a beak length of approximately 17 mm (0.67 in). Voice: Their voice is deep and mellow but slightly metallic chwok, chwok, chwok-whit and kwitchu, kwitchu; very sharply scratchy, metallic chwik!.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: marsyd · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater and White-eared Honeyeater.